What are scholarships?

What are scholarships?

Scholarships are free money available to off-set the cost of school. Students have to apply for scholarships, which are awarded on a case-by-case basis, often based on merit. If a student receives a scholarship, it does not have to be paid back.

What do you need to have to qualify for a scholarship?

Every scholarship has varying requirements – including its own application, which you will need to get and complete – but it is a good idea to pull together a folder of the following information (or as much of it as you can), as almost all scholarships will ask for some combination of these things:

  • Letter(s) of reference
  • Writing sample
  • Resume
  • Official transcripts
  • One or two essays
  • Copy of Student Aid Report
  • Parent and Student Tax Returns and W-2 Forms
  • GPA Certification Form
  • Enrollment Verification Form
  • Copy of Financial Award Letter

Beware of scholarship scams.

Be wary of scholarship applications that require an “application fee.” Also proceed with caution with scholarship matching services that guarantee results and sales pitches that describe themselves as financial aid workshops or seminars.